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INDUSTRY NEWS
Aussie Quantum IC First quantum integrated circuit manufactured in Australia at the atomic scale. In a world-first, Australian quantum computing manufacturer, Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC), has announced they have developed a quantum computing chip that integrates all the necessary components found on a classical computer chip but at the atomic scale, making up a functional quantum processor. Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic, who was on the Kensington campus for the announcement of a significant technical breakthrough by UNSW Professor Michelle Simmons and the team at Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC), said the latest development is evidence of Australia’s superiority in the space. “I want to tell you how much what you do means to the country,” said Mr Husic, referring to the SQC team gathered at the event. “You are contributing over a long period of time to something that is a big deal not just for the country, but for the world.” Mr Husic acknowledged the work of Prof. Simmons and the SQC researchers who announced the development of the world’s first integrated circuit manufactured at the atomic scale. “Our quantum capabilities are clearly world-leading and building on the proud history of research excellence,” Mr Husic said. “It is a clear sign that our companies, our entrepreneurs and our researchers are some of the world’s best.”
Keeping quantum research in Australia Mr Husic also highlighted the government’s commitment to keeping talent in Australia. The government has announced an investment of $1bn in the form of a Critical Technology Fund as part of the broader National Reconstruction Fund. This will help to support home-grown innovation and production in areas like engineering, data science, software development, AI, robotics, and quantum. To ensure the continuous growth and supercharge the quantum computing industry, the government is providing $4m for up to 20 PhDs in quantum research to support universities as they establish national research and education partnerships. “I want the world to know what you are doing, and I want to fight every single day to stop anyone leaving this country that’s involved in quantum,” Mr Husic said. “I want the world to come here, instead of us going there.”
AMT AUG 2022
Mr Husic pointed to a range of statistics that show Australia punches well above its weight when it comes quantum research. Australia accounts for 0.3% of the world’s population, but it accounts for 4.2% of global quantum research. Quantum technology research by Australian researchers is cited 60% more than the global average. Eleven Australian universities rank above the global standard for quantum technology research. Prof. Simmons, founder and director of SQC, described the technical breakthrough as the biggest result of her career. “This has never been done before and nobody else in the world can do it,” Prof Simmons said. “It is a hugely exciting result and what is even more exciting for us is having done that, we have seen that classical roadmap and that we know the commercial devices that are within the next five or six years.” Prof Simmons and researchers from SQC used the integrated processor – known as an analogue quantum processor – to accurately model the quantum states of a small, organic polyacetylene molecule, proving a pathway to creating new materials that have never existed. The advancement is a major step for SQC and its customers to construct quantum models for a range of new materials, from superconductors, materials for batteries, pharmaceuticals, or catalysts. “One of the most promising potential uses of quantum technology is to use one quantum system to simulate other
quantum systems. In this work, the authors considered a chain of ten quantum dots and used them to emulate the so-called SSH model,” said Dr. Charles Hill, Senior Lecturer In Quantum Computation at The University of Melbourne. This big step forward has come less than a decade after the team’s 2012 declaration that it had fabricated the world’s first singleatom transistor and has been achieved two years ahead of schedule. “This is a remarkable piece of engineering,” adds Hill. “The quantum devices used for this demonstration were fabricated with sub-nanometre accuracy. This experiment paves the way for larger and more complex quantum systems to be emulated in the future.” “This is history in the making,” said UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs. “Today’s news puts SQC and UNSW researchers even closer to their goal and reinforces this University’s position at the forefront of quantum technology. It is the culmination of many years of hard work and is an exemplar of the power of collaboration.” SQC is a private company formed in 2017 through a joint initiative with the Commonwealth government, UNSW Sydney, Telstra Corporation, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and the NSW government. sqc.com.au
